Transportation

 

78.  Carpool whenever possible. Although it may take a little more organizing to car pool, it can dramatically cut down on emissions. A city bus can hold as many passengers as 40 cars! And the average seven person van emits almost seven times less pollution than a car with only one commuter.

 

79.  Walk or ride instead of driving. Studies show that the average person makes about 2,000 car trips every year that are less than 2 miles from their home. Instead of always using the car, try walking or cycling instead. Even if you could convert a portion of these trips you would be cutting down significantly on the amount of carbon dioxide that is emitted into the atmosphere.

 

80.  Don’t leave your car idling. Not only does it waste fuel, but idling also puts out a lot of unnecessary pollutants. A good rule of thumb is to turn your car off if you are sitting in traffic for more than 10 seconds. Next time you are waiting for someone, be sure to turn your car off. Don’t start your car ahead of time on a cold morning – the best way to heat it up is to start driving it. And opt to go into a restaurant instead of using the drive thru. Making these simple changes can save a lot of pollution.

 

81.  Use less gas when you’re driving. You use the most gas when you are accelerating. Not to mention the wear and tear on your engine and tires, which makes your car run less efficiently. Save fuel – and cut down on emissions – by using your cruise control when you are driving on the highway. Also, decreasing your driving speed by even a few miles an hour can save you 10% on your fuel.

 

82.  Keep up with the maintenance on your car. A car that is in need of a tune-up or that has improperly inflated tires will use more gas than it needs to. Be sure to keep up with a regular maintenance schedule to avoid any potential problems. This also includes regular oil changes and changing your air filter as recommended by your car manufacturer.

 

83.  Demand your members of government change policies. By requiring car manufacturers to make cars more efficient, we can significantly reduce the amount of CO2 in the air. Write to your members of government and ask them to raise fuel economy standards to 40 miles/gallon. Unless they are required to do so, car manufacturers have little incentive to do it on their own.

 

84.  Buy a hybrid. If you’re in the market for a new car, look into options for hybrids. Although they cost more upfront, they will save you money on gas and maintenance. But more importantly they can have a big impact on the amount of green house gases that are release into the atmosphere. If you can’t afford a hybrid, at least look for the most fuel-efficient car available within your price range.

 

85.  Drive less by planning ahead. Instead of running out every time you think of something you need, plan ahead and make just one trip. Not only will you use less gas, but you’ll also free up more of your time for doing things other than running errands.